Golf ball washer

ABSTRACT

A GOLF BALL WASHER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL OF A GOLF CART FOR ROTATION THEREWITH. AN ANNULAR CHAMBER IS DEFINED IN AN ENCLOSED HOUSING OR CONTAINING GOLF BALL CLEANING MATERIAL AND HAS A TAGENTIAL SPOUT FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING A GOLF BALL.

1971 s. E. RUEDISUELI 3,562,830

GOLF BALL WASHER Filed Jan. 23, 1969 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,562,830 GOLF BALL WASHER Charles E. Ruedisueli, 15728 Bentler, Detroit, Mich. 48223 Filed Jan. 23, 1969, Ser. No. 793,262 Int. Cl. A63b 47/04 US. Cl. 15-21 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf ball washer adapted to be mounted on the wheel of a golf cart for rotation therewith. An annular chamber is defined in an enclosed housing for containing golf ball cleaning material and has a tangential spout for inserting and removing a golf ball.

This invention relates generally to cleaning devices for golf balls, and is particularly concerned with golf ball cleaning devices or washers of the type adapted to be mounted on a golf cart in such a manner that the motion of the golf cart provides a cleaning action for golf balls contained in the golf ball washer.

It has long been the practice to provide galf ball washers or cleaning devices at stationary locations spaced around a golf course at selected points. This arrangement has the deficiency in that it requires continuous maintenance of the washers which is not always fool-proof so that frequently the washers do not have cleaning material and a golfer is thus unable to clean his golf ball when desired and necessary. At best, the golfer will frequently be at cations other than those where the golf ball washers are mounted when he has a golf ball that needs to be cleaned.

Portable golf ball washers have been developed of the type that can be attached to a golf cart so that the motion of the golf cart is transmitted to the golf ball washer to provide a cleaning action so that the balls are automatically cleaned during movement of the golf cart. See, for example, U.S. Pats. 2,876,473; 3,066,335; 3,114,163 and British Pat. 697,358. In such devices, a liquid detergent or other cleaning material is placed in the golf ball washer and when a golf ball is inserted into the golf ball washer, the tumbling action provided by rotation of the wheel of the golf cart, agitates the golf ball in the washer to provide a cleaning action. In general, presently available devices of this type have a disadvantage in that they require a specially constructed wheel for the golf cart or require some modification of the golf cart wheel such as the drilling of attachment holes through the wheel or the provision of threaded fasteners and similar devices on the wheel or hub cap thereof for attachment of the device. Furthermore, these devices frequently are provided with openings in which to insert and remove the golf ball but which also permit the cleaning liquid or other cleaning material to be spilled from the golf cart should it be tipped laterally or bounced over rugged terrain present on some golf courses. Moreover, it is frequently difficult to remove and insert balls from and into the presently available devices since it requires one to reach inside a very small opening in order to grasp the ball contained therein to remove it from the washer. In some devices of this type, it is almost impossible to remove the ball without also dumping the cleaning material from the washer in the same operation.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a golf ball washer that can be detachably mounted on any conventionally constructed golf cart wheel so that the golf ball washer will rotate with the wheel during operation and can be quickly and easily removed from the wheel when desired, the wheel requiring no modification in order to attach the device to the wheel.

A further object is to provide a golf ball washer which 3,562,830 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 can be manipulated to remove the golf ball therefrom without spilling or dumping of cleaning material contained therein.

Still another object is to provide a golf ball washer in which the golf balls can be removed therefrom without the necessity of one having to stick his hands inside the device in order to remove the ball.

Still another object is to provide a golf ball washer in cluding a housing having a chamber therein adapted to contain golf ball cleaning material with an opening defined in the housing for inserting and removing a golf ball into and from the chamber with mounting means on the housing for detachably connecting the housing to the periphery of a golf cart wheel of conventional construction in such a manner that the housing rotates with the golf cart wheel.

A still further object is to provide a wheel mounted golf ball cleaning device having an enclosed housing with an annular chamber for receiving a golf ball with a tangential spout for inserting and removing the ball into and from the annular chamber.

In accordance with the present invention, a golf ball cleaning device is provided having an enclosed housing with an annular chamber defined therein adapted to contain golf ball cleaning material and formed with a tangential spout for inserting and removing a golf ball into and from the annular chamber. A removable cap for closing the spout to prevent escape of a golf ball and any cleaning material contained in the annular chamber during rotation of the housing is attached to the housing. Means is provided for detachably connecting the housing with the periphery of a golf cart wheel of conventional construction. Extending from the outer end of the spout to the annular chamber is a drain passage for draining any cleaning material from the spout to the annular chamber when the spout is disposed in a horizontal position. A plurality of groups of bristles are preferably molded into the inner surface of the annular cleaning chamber on opposite sides of the chamber in such a manner that the groups of bristles on one side of the chamber are disposed in staggered relationship with groups of bristles on the opposite side so that a golf ball contained in the annular chamber will always be in contact with bristles on one side of the golf ball which will tend to impart a rolling motion to the golf ball to enhance the cleaning action.

In the preferred embodiment, the housing is of molded plastic material and has an outer, substantially flat side wall and an inner side wall spaced therefrom with a recess portion extending toward the outer side wall to define the annular chamber for containing the golf ball and so that the hub cap of a golf cart wheel can protrude into the recessed portion when the washer is mounted thereon. The outer peripheries of the side walls are joined together by a substantially semi-circular edge portion conforming generally to the periphery of the golf balls to be washed therein. The mounting means comprises a plurality of resilient spring members each connected at one end of the housing near the periphery of the outer side wall at spaced locations and a connector carried by each of the resilient members for detachable engagement with the periphery of a golf cart wheel of conventional construction.

In one embodiment, the connector comprises a wirelike member having a body of generally U-shaped construction with a base portion and a pair of outwardly extending side members for engaging the sides of the tire of a golf cart wheel with the base portion overlying the outer periphery of the tire. An inwardly projecting prong at the end of one of the side members can be embedded into the tire to secure the connector to the rubber tire. In another embodiment, the connector comprises a screw-eye having a shank portion that can be threadedly embedded in the rubber tire of a golf cart wheel with a hook engaging one end of the spring member.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a conventional golf cart wheel with a golf ball washer embodying the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the golf cart wheel and golf ball washer of FIG. 1 with the outer wall of the golf ball washer broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the golf ball washer of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified mounting means for attaching the golf ball washer to the golf cart wheel.

With reference to the drawings, reference numeral 2 collectively designates an enclosed housing having an annular chamber 4 defined therein adapted to contain golf ball cleaning material with a tangential spout 6 for inserting and removing a golf ball into and from the annular chamber 4. A removable cap 8 closes the spout to prevent escape of a golf ball and any cleaning material contained in the annular chamber 4 during rotation of the housing with the golf cart wheel in a manner to be described hereinbelow.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 2, the cap 8 has a cylindrical portion extending axially of the spout with an internal groove therein containing an O-ring 8a for providing a liquid-tight seal when the cap is frictionally mounted on the end of the spout. The cap 8 is attached to the housing 2 by means of a flexible retaining member 9 which may be of flexible plastic material connected at its opposite ends in a conventional manner with the cap and the periphery of the housing 2.

The housing 2 has an outer, substantially flat side wall 10 and an inner side wall 12 spaced therefrom with a central recessed portion 14 which extends toward the outer side wall 10. The recessed portion 14 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a cylindrical portion 16 and a base portion 18 which is generally parallel with the side walls 10 and 12. The outer peripheries of side Walls 10 and 12 are joined together by a substantially semi-circular edge portion 20. The spout 6 has a diameter substantially the same as that of the semi-circular edge portion 20 so that the upper surface of the spout merges with the edge portion 20. The cylindrical portion 16 of the recess 14 and the edge portion 20 define the inner and outer walls, respectively, of the annular chamber 4 for containing golf balls in the chamber.

With a golf ball received in the annular chamber 4, the housing can be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 until the ball is received in the spout portion 6. With the spout 6 in a vertical position and the ball received in the spout, the housing can then be rotated clockwise i until the spout is in a substantially horizontal position, or slightly inclined in a counterclockwise direction from the horizontal position, and the cap removed to permit the ball to roll out of the spout. In order to prevent the dumping of any cleaning fluid from the housing during removal of a ball, a cleaning trough or drain passage 21 is formed in the housing. The drain passage extends from adjacent the outer end of the spout on the lower surface thereof to the annular chamber 4 at a depressed angle with respect to the axis of the spout. Thus, when the spout is in a substantially horizontal position, any cleaning material contained in the spout drains rearwardly (toward the right and FIG. 2) and downwardly through the trough or passage 21 into the chamber 4.

The housing 2 is detachably mounted on a golf cart Wheel W by a mounting means 22 comprising a plurality of resilient members 24 each connected at one end to housing 2 near the periphery of the outer side wall at spaced locations around the periphery of the side wall, and a connector carried by each of said resilient members 24 for detachable engagement with the periphery of a golf cart wheel W. The resilient members 24 are in the form of coil springs each having a hook or looped portion 28 engaged with a lug 26 formed on the housing near the periphery of the outer side wall 10. The connector 30 is in the form of a generally U-shaped wire body having a base member 32 for overlying the outer periphery of the rubber tire T of the golf cart wheel with a pair of outwardly extending side members 34 and 36 extending from the ends thereof. The side member 34 has a hook 38 formed on its end for engagement with a hook or looped portion 40 formed on the outer free end of the resilient member 24. The side member 36 has an inwardly extending prong 42 which can be embedded in the rubber tire T to secure the mounting means 22 to the tire.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting means 22 includes three assemblies of resilient members 24 and connectors 30 spaced apart around the axis of rotation of the housing 2 and golf cart wheel W. The housing 2 is thus secured against rotation relative to the golf cart wheel and the rotation of the wheel causes simultaneous rotation of the golf ball washer to provide a cleaning action.

With reference to FIG. 3, reference numeral 48 designates bristles projecting inwardly from the sides of the annular chamber 4, the bristles 48 being arranged in a plurality of groups 50 and 50a (FIG. 3) of substantial trapezoidal shape on opposite sides of the annular chamber. The groups 50 on one side of the annular chamber are olfset or staggered relative to the groups 50a on the other side such that when one side of the golf ball is engaged with a smooth portion 51 between two adjacent groups 50, the diametrically opposite surface of the golf ball will engage a group 50a of bristles 48 such that rotation of the housing will also tend to impart a rolling action to the ball to enhance the cleaning effect. The bristles 48 preferably are molded integrally into the plastic material of the housing.

To operate the washer or cleaning device of FIGS. 1 through 3, the cap 8 is removed from the spout and cleaning material which may be in the form of a liquid detergent or the like is introduced in the chamber 4 through the spout and the chamber is filled to a level preferably below the upper end of the drain trough 21 as viewed in FIG. 2. One or more golf balls is then introduced into the spout and the cap replaced over the end of the spout. When the housing is then mounted on a golf cart wheel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, rotation of the wheel causes the balls to move around the annular chamber 4 during rotation of the housing, which action causes them to be cleaned due to the interaction with the bristles 48 and the cleaning action of the cleaning material. When it is desired to remove a ball from the housing, the wheel is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 until the spout points downwardly in a vertical direction on the left side of the axis of rotation as viewed in FIG. 3 in which position the golf ball or balls will be received in the spout with one ball resting on the inner surface of cap 8. The housing and wheel are then rotated until the spout is in the approximate position shown in FIG. 2 in which it extends toward the left, as viewed in the drawings, in a horizontal direction. Any cleaning material in the spout will then drain through the drain trough 21 to the chamber 4 and when the cap is removed, the ball will roll out of the end of the spout.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified arrangement of the mounting means wherein a mounting means 22 includes a resilient member 24 which may be identical to the member 24 of FIGS. 1 through 3 with a connector 30' in the form of a screw-eye having a shank 54 which is threaded so as to be threadedly embedded in the rubber tire T of the wheel and a hook 56 on the outer end engaged with the end of the spring member 24.

While a specific form of the invention is illustrated and described in the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown but that various alternatives in the construction and arrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, Will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A golf ball washer adapted to be mounted on the wheel of a golf cart for rotation therewith comprising: an enclosed housing having an annular chamber therein adapted to contain golf ball cleaning material with a tangential spout for inserting and removing a golf ball into and from the annular chamber, and a removable cap for closing said spout to prevent escape of a golf ball and any cleaning material contained in said annular chamber during rotation of the housing.

2. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 1 further including means defining a drain passage operable to drain liquid from the spout to the annular chamber when the spout is disposed horizontally.

3. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 1 further including means for detachably connecting said housing with the periphery of a golf cart wheel.

4. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of groups of bristles distributed on opposite sides of said annular chamber with the groups of bristles on one side of said chamber in staggered relationship with the groups of bristles on the opposite side.

5. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has an outer, substantially flat side wall and an inner side wall spaced therefrom with a recessed portion extending toward the outer side wall.

6. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 5 wherein the outer peripheries of said side walls are joined together by a substantially semi-circular edge portion.

7. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim '6 further including mounting means for detachably connecting the housing to the peripheral portion of a golf cart wheel to non-rotatably mount the housing on the Wheel.

8. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of resilient members each connected at one end to said housing near the periphery of the outer side wall at spaced locations, and a connector carried by each of said resilient members for detachable engagement with the periphery of a golf cart wheel.

9. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 8 wherein said connector comprises a wire-like body adapted to extend over the periphery of a golf cart wheel with a prong on the end opposite the resilient member adapted to be embedded in the rubber tire of a golf cart wheel.

10. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said connector comprises a screw-eye attached to said resilient member and adapted to be threadedly embedded in the rubber tire of a golf cart wheel.

11. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 7 further including a drain trough extending from the outer end of the spout on the lower surface thereof to the chamber at a depressed angle with respect to the axis of the spout.

12. A golf ball washer adapted to be mounted on the wheel of a golf cart for rotation therewith comprising: a housing having a chamber therein adapted to contain golf ball cleaning material with an opening defined in said housing for inserting and removing a golf ball into and from said chamber, and mounting means on said housing for detachably connecting the housing to the periphery of a golf cart wheel in such a manner that the housing rotates with the golf cart wheel.

13. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 12 wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of resilient members each connected at one end to the housing, and a connector carried by each of said resilient members for detachably engaging the periphery of a golf cart wheel.

14. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 13 wherein said connector comprises a generally U-shaped body having a base portion for overlying the outer pheriphery of a golf cart wheel tire, and side members for engaging the sides of the tire.

15. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 14 further including an inwardly extending prong on the outer end of one of said side members adapted to be embedded in the tire.

16. A golf ball washer as claimed in claim 13 wherein said connector comprises a screw-eye attached to said resilient member and adapted to be threadedly embedded in the rubber tire of a golf cart wheel.

17. A golf ball washer comprising: a housing having an annular chamber for receiving a golf ball, a plurality of spaced groups of bristles projecting from opposite sides of said chamber with the groups of bristles on one side of said chamber in staggered relationship with the groups of bristles on the other side of said chamber so that engagement of a golf ball with the bristles as it moves through the chamber imparts a rolling action to the golf ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,540,687 2/1951 Netterstrom 152l(.1) 2,876,473 3/1959 Fox 1521(.1) 3,066,335 12/1962 Brown, Jr. 1521(.1)

EDWA RD L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l5-97 

